Addressing online information resources’ access challenges: potentials of resource discovery tools’ application
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Date
2016-12-11
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Abstract
This study was designed to assess the awareness and usage of a discovery tool known as LibHub among undergraduate
students in their research projects’ undertakings. The study involved respondents who were randomly selected from
purposively chosen four degree courses in the Faculty of Agriculture at the Sokoine University Agriculture in Tanzania.
Copies of semi-structured questionnaire were distributed to 200 respondents for self-administration. Of the returned copies
of the questionnaire, 158 (79%) were found complete and useful for further analysis. The findings of the study indicate that
majority of respondents who knew and used LibHub were those who previously attended information literacy trainings at
the University as compared to those who had never attended such trainings. Respondents who acknowledged to have used
LibHub in their online information search endeavours cited ability to access information from various sources using a single
authentication as the major advantage of this research tool. They also pointed out that a single search interface provided by
LibHub saved time they spent in searching literature. However, respondents complained of limited number of computers at
the University, few wireless points for internet access, and low internet speed as hindrances for effective utilisation of the
LibHub in accessing online information resources. The study recommends more institutions to consider adoption of
discovery tools in fulfilling their campaigns to foster the utilisation of online information resources.
Description
Annals of Library and Information Studies, 2016; 63 : 266-273
Keywords
Information literacy, LibHub, Online information resources, Resource discovery tools, University of Agriculture